The "dry run" to Montauk Point Lighthouse"

Once again we find ourselves "knee-deep" in our assignment as Group Missionary Activities Coordinators--and we have several activities "calendared" for the next few months. One that has us a little concerned is the trip out to Long Island--actually the very END OF LONG ISLAND, to the MONTAUK POINT LIGHTHOUSE.  It takes over 3 hours to get to Montauk Village by train--Long Island RailRoad (LIRR) and then the Lighthouse is another 5 or 6 miles out of town. With many "unknowns" about this activity--Ron proposed and I was pretty much "on board (or All Aboard)" that we take a Monday and do a "dry run" of this activity. Somehow we got one of the other Temple Missionary couples, Kent & Barbara Heideman, to join us in this "run" as they are busy with a daughter who lives back here, on the day of the proposed Activity.
So on Monday, June 19, 2017, we set out for Long Island. Trying to test all options, Ron decided to go by "road"  so he and Kent escorted Barbara and I to Penn Station where she and I bought tickets on the LIRR train and then they left us to go and rent a car and "meet us" at the RR Station in Montauk, New York.  We had a very pleasant ride to Babylon (real name), New York, where we then got off the train and crossed the platform to a " double decker" train that was waiting to take us the rest of the way--Montauk being the end of the line. We tried to get seats on the top layer--but almost every window seat was taken in the car we boarded first so in order to get a seat together, and "be seated" before the train departed, we went below on the next traincar and easily found seats together.  By now we were close, if not into, The Hamptons, an area of Long Island where many of the "wealthy" New Yorkers have beautiful country estates, so what we could see from our "low traincar" was rolling green and lots of trees. We arrived at the LIRR Montauk station at 11:00 am --having left Penn Station at 7:50 am. We got off the train and started walking down a wooden boardwalk and saw a large group of what I'll call "taxi mongers" all barking "Taxi, Taxi" and waving their business cards in our faces!! We got out of there--hoping that our "personal taxi--Ron & Kent" were somewhere in that dirt parking lot. But they were still a few miles out of town. So we looked around at our surroundings, found a nice business who let us use their restroom and then came back to wait for our ride. The "village of Montauk" is about .6 miles from the Train station and sort of quaint and touristy. It's 'village center or plaza' is a round circle of shops and little eating "rooms" as the locals called them with a street going thru the middle of this circle. They rely very heavily on tourists--and wealthy ones at that. It was a bit breezy and a little cooler than I had expected, so I was looking for a shop where I could buy a sweatshirt or sweater. We had ordered lunch at a local spot recommended by someone we asked, so I went to look in a shop or two for this item. I went into what I'm sure was a "second hand" store and thought I'd surely find what I was seeking. Yes, there was a rack of "gently used" sweatshirts--but no pricetags on them. I was alone in the shop except for a clerk so I asked her:
Me: "How much is this--(holding up the sweatshirt)?
Clerk: "$72.00"
Me:  "(with disbelief in my voice) For a Sweatshirt??"
Clerk: "It's a very nice one"
Me: (and I'm sure I shared more than she wanted to know) I've never paid that for a Sweatshirt" and kindly left the store.

After we finished lunch--we went across the street to "Montauk Clothing" and found every kind of sweatshirt, tee shirt imaginable and purchased a "nice" sweatshirt that zips up the front, on sale, for $37.00!! PLEASED WITH MY PURCHASE!! 

Ron and I outside the Village information center--with my newly acquired sweatshirt--and very glad for it!!

We then got in the car and traveled out to the Lighthouse, about 6 miles out of the center of town. 

                                                

At the entrance to the Montauk Point Lighthouse

The Museum attached to the Lighthouse

"LOST AT SEA MEMORIAL"

a sculpture by Malcolm Frazier--

located overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at the end of Lighthouse grounds

View from the top of the 134 stairs of the Lighthouse landing

Just out the small doorway at the Lighthouse top

Very windy--and I can't do a thing with my hair!! 

To put the doorway in "perspective"

Views of the beach below, the "crashing waves" and the Atlantic Ocean

More views from the top of the Lighthouse--looking down 

The other side of the Lighthouse--more beach--less cliffs 

Barbara and Kent Heideman--our fellow "Missionary Explorers" 

Barbara and I both expressed how we could stay there all day and listen to and watch the crashing waves of the Ocean upon the beach!! It was great!!

Carol and Ron down on the cliff-side beach

On the south side of the Lighthouse, looking down the beach with the cliffs on our right

Kent Heideman and Ron "skipping rocks" into the Atlantic 

These " boys" are just drawn to the ""challenge" of finding good flat rocks for skipping! 

It was quite a breezy day-- and foggy, so the waves were "crashing" and the Fog Horn was blowing at the Lighthouse 

Our wonderful friends and fellow Missionaries--Barbara and Kent Heideman,  who we traveled with and spent such a glorious day with--as we "ironed out the details and question marks" concerning this upcoming Group Missionary Activity to Montauk Point Lighthouse 

" Thank you so much for spending so much time and energy to help us figure this out!" We could NOT have come up with THE PLAN without your help and input!"

Now we are READY to put it out there for the Group to "Sign Up" and experience  what we have so enjoyed this day!!